Newsletter for Thursday, April 14, 2016I skipped publishing a newsletter last week due to the slow pace. However, we did lay a lot of groundwork for the budget, including setting the targets for the various appropriations bills.This week, week 14 of the session, the pace picked up considerably. ...
To help in the fight against domestic violence and ensure the safety of victims, the Iowa Senate unanimously approved two major bills.Each year, thousands of Iowans suffer abuse at the hands of their spouse, former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend. In 2014, Iowa had 13 domestic abuse murders-an ...
The portables need to be replaced. No doubt about it. It is my understanding that we are currently going to get a 9 classroom addition to the high school for a price tag of $5.7 million, with a potential of $2 million more of add ons up in the air. Just looking at the 9 classrooms at $5,700,000 ...
Prescription overdoses kill more Americans each year than all other drugs combined. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 44 people die from a prescription painkiller overdose every day.Though Iowa ranks 45th in the nation for overdose fatalities, the number of Iowa drug deaths--a ...
Iowa is one of the best states in the nation in terms of accessibility to the polls. Participating in the electoral process is a civic responsibility that I feel every eligible citizen should undertake. Throughout my tenures as Iowa's Secretary of State, I have worked vigorously to encourage ...
Newsletter for Thursday,March 31, 2016Work has been slow this week as the number of bills available for debate dwindles. Work on the budget continues as the House and Senate work to iron out the budget targets for the various departments.MedicaidTransitionIowa's Medicaid Modernization plan ...
Newsletter for Thursday, March 24, 2016This week the conference committee meeting on the bills setting Supplemental State Aid (SSA) for K-12 schools came to an agreement. This committee consists of an even number of Democrats and Republicans with members from both chambers. The Senate had ...
CEDAR?RAPIDS- The personal financial support required by a person with Alzheimer's disease may ultimately deprive care contributors of basic necessities, such as food, transportation and medical care, according to the 2016 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures report released today. Alzheimer's ...
(Des Moines) The Iowa Senate has approved legislation to create jobs and economic growth using the plant materials left over from the production of ethanol, biodiesel, and other biomass-based fuels.Senate File 2300 creates a Renewable Chemical Production Tax Credit. The tax credit will ...
On April 5th, the South Tama School Board will be holding an election concerning South Tama's revenue purpose statement.On March 24th I received in the mail, via a bulk mailing a postcard from the STC School District campaigning for yes votes on April 5th.I try to keep up with what's happening ...